Louisville Personal Injury Claims

Louisville Car Accident

Let’s face it, when it comes to Louisville personal injury claims, there’s a stigma placed on car accident victims. If you were involved in an accident, injured, and sue for damages because the Defendant’s insurance adjuster won’t pay for your reasonable medical bills and pain and suffering, society brands you as the CEO of your own get rich quick scheme. For this reason, many accident victims attempt to avoid the stigma of being the “McDonald’s coffee burn victim” (you know the one that made millions because they spilled hot coffee on themselves) and forego treatment and damages. The truth is this, in Kentucky, if you are involved in a car wreck or auto accident, you are entitled to any damages you suffered; from a loss of vehicle value, to the pain and suffering you experienced while being hit by another driver’s vehicle.

“I Wasn’t Injured”

I can’t tell you the number of times I have had a property damage client tell me they were recently in a Louisville KY auto accident and weren’t injured. My first question is always, “how do you know?” Many of us aren’t doctors, and as such, we shouldn’t pretend to be. Only a doctor can tell you if you were injured or not. My point is this, if you have been involved in a Louisville KY car wreck, go to your local emergency room and tell them what happened. Here’s why:

It’s Free

Yes, if you’ve been involved in an automobile accident and have Kentucky car insurance (which is required), then you will have at least $10,000 in PIP benefits that will allow you to be examined, and treated. Your insurance company will foot the bill on this and it shouldn’t raise your rates

Peace of Mind

Getting examined by a medical professional gives you documented proof of a medical issue, if one exists. Understanding your own health is extremely important to living a long life, additionally, knowing what issues exist can go a long way in establishing a preventative care plan.

Time is Limited

You only have 2 years from the date of an accident, or from your last PIP benefit payment to file a lawsuit for a Louisville car accident injury. Additionally, the Defendant’s insurance company is less likely to take your injury seriously the more time passes between the accident, and you seeking treatment. The longer you wait to see a doctor, the less likely you are going to be able to collect for that latent injury that may effect your daily activities down the road. By simply going to the emergency room right after or within a few days of an accident, you can help preserve your argument for future treatment.

Pain and Suffering

In Kentucky, the Defendant’s insurance company may NOT offer you any pain and suffering dollars until you have acquired at least $1,000 in medical bills. Why? Because under Kentucky law, unless you opt out, you cannot sue the Defendant until you have reached the $1,000 medical bills threshold. The insurance companies know this and refuse to acknowledge that you suffered any pain and suffering by their insured until you have medical bills of $1,000 or more. Hitting the $1,000 mark is not hard, by going to the emergency room and getting an x-ray or two, you’ll be eligible for the pain and suffering that you experienced at the time of the accident. It’s not about racking up medical bills to claim pain and suffering, it’s about taking care of your health after an accident, only after that do you worry about obtaining the compensation you were owed when you were jostled in your vehicle.